Mikelson 57 NW Adventure, Part V

Day 8, Thursday 8/3, we depart Echo Bay at 9:30 AM

One last look at Echo Bay as we pull away from the dock. Glassy smooth with no wind.
Perfect conditions.

We decided to do a little sight seeing before heading north to Sullivan Bay. This
would normally be a very short run of 17 miles or less than 2 hours running time.
We decide instead to take a 16 mile detour and head east up the Tribune
Channel to Kwatsi Bay and Watson Cove, Both places were highly
recommended by boating friends as places to check out. A well known landmark
called Lacey Falls is also located near Watson Cove, photos of which having
appeared in several travel magazines.
We are on the way to Kwatsi and Watson. The weather and sea conditions are
really marginal. Looks like a lake. The water however is in the mid 50s; no
swimming today.
The “marina” in Kwatsi Bay, with bare essentials; room for 4 or 5 small boats or
one mega yacht.
A mega-yacht was also anchored in the bay. We gave him a bit of a concern
when we cruised by; he was probably thinking RHIII was going to anchor near
him. No fears, we just kept going.
We are now headed back toward Sullivan Bay after the detour. The landscape is
spectacular, we are in over 600 feet of water with 600 feet or more sheer walls
right next to RHIII.

We had a visitor on the boat last night. At around 11 PM, I heard a noise in the
cockpit of RHIII. I open the salon door and spot a raccoon attempting to make off
with one of our mesh bait bags that had a ½ can of cat food in it.
Cat food works well for crab bait. I grab the boat hook and take a swing at the
intruder. He jumps onto the dock, drops the bait bag and scurries back into the
woods.
The night before, we thought that seagulls had gotten into a garbage bag we left
on the deck. Now we suspect that it was the same raccoon. No more edible items
in the cockpit overnight; lesson learned.
The escape route was up the gangway for the pesky raccoon.
Note the sign on the left of the gangway; “WE (Echo Bay) DO NOT TAKE
GARBAGE”. Most places up here have the same policies so we have
accumulated about a weeks worth of trash and garbage in one of the cockpit
holds (storage compartments), things are beginning to get a little ripe.
We may have to have a “burial at sea”. Environment Canada would not be happy
so we nix the idea. We are getting desperate though and week old crab remnants
are not a good idea.

This is a photo of one of the notorious floating logs that inhabit the waters of
British Columbia.
Some are the size of telephone poles while others come in all sizes. Anyone of
which can take out your running gear if hit; ie your props or punch a hole in your
boat’s hull which means you will sink!!
Seagulls and other birds like to sit on the logs which helps us spot the hazards.
Rough weather is another matter when trying to spot the logs. You just hope for
the best and slow down.
We arrive in Sullivan Bay around 3 in the afternoon; nice marina, very similar to
Echo Bay, several floating homes of locals. We find out that Pierre from Echo used to
work here so that explains the similarity.
The general store has a few items that we need. No cell phone coverage at all and the
internet access is limited to single shade tent not close to the boat. Numerous
boaters huddle there to get their emails and social media fixes. It is slow at best.
Another appetizer potluck is scheduled for 5 pm for the boaters. Karen and John get
creative and make a Mexican appetizer called ceviche using the rock cod we caught
the day before. Lime juice is used to “cook” the fish without any heat. Lemon juice,
chopped veggies, onions, jalapeños, and anything else available is thrown in. Served
cold on crackers.
Most of the other boaters did not have a clue what it was, however, the 2 bowls of
ceviche were quickly cleaned out. We may have set a new trend up here for potluck
appetizers. Way to go Karen and John!
John talks to several boaters on the dock who are “real serious fishermen”. We get
the local intel we need to plan a salmon fishing trip for tomorrow. The advice is to
go to James Point, on the main land about 10-12 miles away toward the Queen
Charlotte Sound. We decide to trust these guys.
Will the “Southern California boys and gals” have any salmon fishing success in the
Northwest? We know that Mikelson’s attract tuna, marlin, wahoo, albacore, yellow
fin and other species.
Tune in tomorrow to find out if a Mikelson 57 can troll at 2 kts and actually attract
salmon.
Bye for now.